Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol 11, Issue 2 139-144, Copyright © 1992 by American College of Nutrition

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Effects of vitamin C on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure

P. F. Jacques
USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111.

Diet has been linked to cardiovascular disease risk by its influence on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and blood pressure (BP). Recent evidence suggests that vitamin C may play a role in regulation of cholesterol and BP. The cross-sectional relationships of plasma ascorbic acid (PAA) with cholesterol and BP are described in three Boston area samples: 1) 249 males and 447 females (aged 60-100 years), 2) 100 Chinese-American males and 159 Chinese-American females (aged 60-96 years), and 3) 225 male and 192 female participants (aged 20-60 years) in a randomized field trial of vitamin C supplementation. Results indicate 3.7-9.5% higher levels of HDL-C, 4.1% lower levels of LDL-C, and 1.9-5.5% lower levels of BP with each 30 mumol/L increment in PAA. These relationships may be stronger at lower levels of PAA.

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